How to see tonight's supermoon if you live in London

Grace Rahman is a trainee journalist with an interest in science, culture and current affairs

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Moon rising over Glastonbury Tor (Source: Getty)

Grace Rahman

Don’t worry if you didn’t catch last month’s Draconids or Orionids meteor showers, because tonight the largest moon since 1948 will be visible over London. Yes - the supermoon is back, and it's absolutely massive.

When can I see the Supermoon?

Since the clocks went back and the nights have started earlier, stargazing hours have become more sociable. So they’ll be no staying up late on a work night for this one.

The supermoon will rise at around 4:45pm on 14 November. Look to the horizon to see the moon at its brightest and indeed, most "super".

Why is the supermoon so big?

The answer is simple - it will just be a lot closer to Earth than normal. In fact this is the closest the moon has been since 1948.

Supermoons in general are common enough, but on this particular night, the sun, Earth and moon will align, and the moon will be on its orbit path closest to us, meaning it will look 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual.

A bright moon visible under the London Eye (Source: Getty)

How to watch it

You won’t need any kind of kit for this orb-some sight, as it’s a bigger moon than usual, so is easily visible to the naked eye. But if you do have binoculars, bring them along - 14 November will be your best opportunity for a while to get a good look at the moon's craters and seas.

Where to watch it

Avoiding light pollution will enhance your view of the supermoon, but if you can’t get outside of the M25, a garden will do. Turn off your house lights and focus on the sky for a little while to get your eyes to acclimatise to the lack of light.

The moon will be a third brighter than it usually is, so you probably won’t miss it even if you’re still in the city. For a decent view, head to a high floor, one of London's rooftop bars - or a hilltop park such as Primrose Hill or Hampstead Heath.

And if you miss it?

You have an opportunity tomorrow night, too. Tuesday night's moon will only be slightly smaller.

There are three more supermoons to be seen before the year is out, but none will be as historically bright as this one.